Interrupter circuit and apparatus.



J. F. BUGLE. IN'IERRUPTER CIRCUIT AND APPARATUS.

PPLIOATION FILED JUNEIZ, 1907.y

Patented May Il, IQOQ.

a converter.

o 'UniTED sTATEs PATENT oni-rior..

JOHN l". ENGLE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH ELISIUIRII..` COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OI" OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Application liled June 12, 1907. Serial No. 378,549.

T o all whom it mag/gcoizfcefr'nf.' v

Be it kno an that I, JOHN F. ENGLE, a citivzen of the United States of America, and a for employment in connect-ion with telephone A systems to ei'ect selective signaling, willbe described as embodied to practice the saine in this useful form, although not necessarily limited thereto.

For reasons of economy and adaptability, battery currents are preferable for signaling pur osos, which may either be applied direct y to the line, or'inay be transmitted throueh the medium of converters in the Well nov/n manner. lVith selective 'currents, however, itis desirable to adjust the frequencies of interi-u ition, and to eliminate numerous contacts an avoid sparking therebetween, particularly with the interrupters supplying the higher frequencies.I Moreover, it is important that the interrupter shall not be retarded or impeded in its operation when ii'iomentarily connected in 'circuit to supply an unusual amount of signaling current. These, and other requirements,

have been borne'in mind in evolving ,the

present invention, which is here explained in connection Witlia selective or harmonic signaling system for a four-party telephone line. The interruptor device thereof, which I may here explain in a preliminary Way,

' consists of a vibrating member connected directly to one pole of the' battery, or other .source of current, and is normallv actuated by means of two coils of relatively high resistance in shunt relation respectively with tiro lonY resistance coils connected to the translatingdevice, or to primary windings of By reason of the normally open circuit to the translating device, or because of the impedance of the converter,

little or no current will be required for the normal operation of the interruptor, through the alternative action of the shunt coils. However, upon the accession of load, the vibratory member will placed alternatively under the influence of the series coils, from which the principal signaling current is then supplied, and the action ofthe interrupter is immediately augmented. These two sets of series and'shunt coils arevconnected respectively to tivo contacts of the interrupter, which preferably arebridged by a condenser and lead to the other pole of the battery or source of the current.

Having explained so much of my improvenient, I may now make reference to the accompanyingsheet of drawings, wherein the features of my invention as embodied in a telephone system, are graphically and diagrammatically set forth. i

Figure I of said drawing shows in plan view an interrupter device best adapte( for practicing my invention. Fig. II is a detail thereof. Fig. III is a diagram of the circuits of an interruptor and its associated converter; while Fig. IV illustrates the present invention as applied to the cord circuit of a four-party selective tele hone line.

Throughout the severa figures ofthe drawing, have em loyed the saine character of reference to in( icate similar parts.

Referring first to the intcrrupte'r, it will be seen that the vibrating member or reed a,

equip .d with a variable Wei ht 0,,.is designer, under the influence of aterally ositioned electro-magnets b o', alternative y to engage the contact s rings c c thereof. These electro-magnets eac i comprise a highand a low resistance coiltzl, shunting each other and terminating respectively in the contact springs c c. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the source of current, -as battery B, has oneofits poles connected directlywith the tongue or vibrating member a of the interrupter, While the other pole of the battery is connected directly with the high resistance shunt coils b2, and preferably through the windings d d of a converter d, with the low resistance coils b3, in series with said windings. It will be understood, however, that the series windings may be connected instead, "directly to any suitable translating 'device or switch mechanism Without the inv excitations generate poles of like sign in each of the magnet cores. The reed or tongue a, preferably is of steel and is polarized, more readily to respond to the excitation, of the magnet coils. Bridged about the contact springs c c and their respective associated windings b2 b3 is the condenser e. As shown in the diagram, Fig. IV, the secondary d2 of each converter d, is connected through a resistance lamp d3 with the corresponding c-on-` tacts e', e2, e3, eAx of an o erators selective key, controlling the flow o current to the calling plug g of the cord circuit, which is shown inserte in the jack p of a four-party selective telephone line. Each station upon said line,

connected between conductors 1, 2, is designated by a'signaling bellf, f2, f3, fwith its associated condenser f: the ordinary substation apparatus being omitted as unnecessary. ,Moreoveig the customary cord circuit and line signaling apparatu'sis conventionally indicated in the diagram, suliiciently to illustrate the principal application of the invention, but I do not consider that these features re uire explanation herein.

Each of t e interrupters a', a, a, a4 is connected in circuit precisely as explained above, employing converters d whereby to Vat transmit current to the signaling circuit, but

the reeds or vibrating members of said interrupters and their wei hts, are respectively made stiffer and lig ter for the high frequencies, and more flexible and heavier for the low frequencies. Practically any desired number of these adjusted interrupters may be employed. With respect to the windings upon the electro-magnets bt of i these interrupters, the series coils, are provided with -more turns upon the high fre-A quency interrupters than upon the liow, while the co-acting shunt coils are provided with fewer turns upon the coils of the high frequency interrupters, than upon the corresponding windings of the low frequency interru ters. Preferably this is found to be desirab ein practice, for the reason that with the stiffer reeds and higher rates of vibration, more work must be done by the high frequency electro-magnets, and as an example of approximately the preferred -number of turns for a four-party line employing twentyfour volts on the primaries, I may say that the highest frequency interrupter will have 100 turns upon its series coil, and 6500 turns upon the shunt coil, while the lowest freuency interruptor will have 40 turns upon t e series coil, and 12,500 turns upon its shunt coil; the windings upon the other in terrupters `being intermediate of these two. I have preferably wound the secondaries to generate 160 volts in the signaling circuit, and this I find is transmitted with relatively small drop in voltage, even to the most distant stat1ons. This is because of the fact that the series coils are energized by the fullv flow of current and impart a more powerful vibratory movement tothe contact member a, thereby insuring a longer closure of the respective magnet circuits, tending to secure approximate magnetic saturation of the iron body of the converter, and thereby transmitting the maximum voltage from the secondary winding. This operation probably will be better understood by making further reference to the diagram, Fig. IV, and assumingthat one of the stations is to be rung, as station f. Assuming too, that the line has been tested, and the calling plug p inserted in the properV jackthe operator will actuate her selective key, closing together the contacts e.. All of the interrupters are in operation under the impulse of their ,respective shunt windings, but upon the closure of the contacts e, the impedance ofthe converter connected with interrupter4 a. will immediately be reduced, since its secondary is thus closed, thereby permitting the Aflow of exciting current through the divided primary windings d. Current may be traced from the upper pole of the battery, through the common conductor to the vibrating member a, contact-c, series windingfb?, the right hand portion of the primary winding d and 'engagement with contactc, thereby opening circuit with contact c and its connected windings, and closing thev circuit with contact c and the 'connected windings upon the left. Current then flows through windings b3 thereof, and the left hand coil of the primary winding d upon the converter. This, as will be well understood, causes alternating currents of the required frequency to flow through the circuit closed by the plug` and contacts e; said circuit being traced from the left hand side of the secondary d2 through conductor 4, the contacts of the operators key l to the tip of the plug, conductor 1, through the bell f, conductor 2, the sleeve of the plug, the contacts of the operators key, and contacts e (assumed to be closed), and conductor 5 to the right hand side of the secondary windings. The bell f will, of course, respond to this current of proper frequency, while the remaining bells upon the line circuit will fail to be actuated, as will be well understood by those conversant with the art.

Thus I have set forth a typical embodiment of my invention, from which it will be appreciated that simply with two alternativ(` contacts and associated series and shunt actuating windings upon the electro-magnets, that under conditions of no load,vthe interrupters will be actuated through the high v resistance coils at a minimum expenditure of battery power, while underv cond1t1ons of load, and proportionate thereto, the series.`

charge and disc arge, augments the exciting vtory member a.

currents in a well known manner. The lamp resistances 'connecting inthe secondary circuits, are provided merely as well knownv safeguards against the flow of excessive current.

I In 'ractice, each of the interrupters, upon insta ation is connected in circuit as shown. The adjusting screws g g, are separated to such an extent that neither of the contact 'springs c c is in engagement with the vibra- One of these screws as g is then turned until the contact spring c is brought into engagement with the contact of the vibratory member, whereupon it will start under the impulse of but a single magnet. This screw is then turned back slightly, sayto the extent of one quarterturn, and the opposing screw g is Athenturned until the contact c similarly is brought into engagement with the contact of the vibrating member, whereupon this screw is also set in its ad'usted position and the interrupter device wi l continue normally under the impulse of its shunt windings. It will be seen, however, that with a slight bias, the vibrating A member may be actuated by a single electromagnet, but preferably I employ the arrangement herein `set forth.

Having now set forth the embodiment of my invention and explained one of its ractical applications toslgnaling circuits, claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following 41. The combination with a source of current, of a vibratory contact member connected thereto, two opposing contacts adapted alternatively to be engaged thereby, and electro magnetic apparatus for securing the vibration of the contact member, comprisingactuating windings of relatively high resistance normally connected with the source of current, and low resistance windings shunted thereby and in series relation with the trans-v lating device, substantially as .set forth.

2. In an interrupter device for electric circuits, the combination with a vibratory contact member, two contact parts adapted alternatively to be engaged thereby, two laterally positioned, actuating magnets connected respectively with said contact parts and provided with series and shunt windings,` and means for normally checking the flow/of current through the series windings, substantially as setforth.

3. In apparatus for transmitting alternating currents, the combination with a converter, of an associated source of direct current eind an interrupter device; the latter comprising a `vibratory contact member connected with the source of current, two contact parts adapted alternatively to be engaged thereby, land electro magnetic actuating f means for the vibrating member, comprising an excited core and series and shunt windings respectively connected with the converter'and with the source of, current, and further connected to receive exciting currents through the circuit closed by the vibrating member, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for transmitting alternating currents, the combination with a converter having secondary windings supplying the associated circuit and divided primary windings, of a source of direct current, and

an interrupter device associated with the converter, comprising. a vibratory contact member connected with the source of current, two contact parts alternatively engaged by said member and connected to control theiiow of current to the primarywindings of the converter, and electro-magnetic apparatus excited by current transmitted through the vibratory contact member; the same having'shunt windings normally actuating the vibratory member and series windings connected each to each with the divided primary windings of the converter, substantially as set forth.

-5. The combination with a converter, having a secondary winding adapted to be connected with a signaling circuit and a divided primary windmg, of a source of direct current, and an interrupter appliance, both associated with said converter; the latter comprising a vibratory contact member and two actuating electro-magnets each having shunt windings connected with the source of current, 'and'low resistance windings respectively connected with the divided primaries to insure reverse magnetic excitation, and

two reversely-positioned contact parts between which the v'ibratory member is actuated; said contact parts being respectively connected with the windings of the electromagnets, substantially as set forth..

6. In an interrupter appliance, the combination with a vibratory member, of two alternative contact parts between which it moves; said contact parts having permanent connection with the source ofcurrent, and' electro-magnetic means for securing the vibration .of said member, comprising series and shunt magnet windings, connected with said Contact parts, substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a converter, ofv a source of direct current and an interrupter device; the latter comprising a vibratory member connected with one pole of the source of current, electro-magnetic actuating means havshunt windings connected with the other po e of said source of current, reversely arranged contacts alternatively engaged by the vibrating member, and actuating series windings connected with the'primary windings of the converter, substantially as set forth.

8. In anv interrupter appliance, the coinbination with a vibratory member adapted to be connected with one pole of the source of current, two relatively high resistance windings of actuating electro magnetic means, ada ted to be connectedvwith the opposing po e of the source of current, two relatively low resistance windings thereon, respectively shunted by the former, and'two reversely positioned contacts between which the vibratory member plays, and which are respectively connected to terminals of the high and low resistance windings, substantially as -set forth.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with signaling-circuit terminals, g

a high resistance shunt coil connected be- L tween one of the contacts and the opposing pole of the -source of current,- and a'low re- Y sistanceY serles coil respectively connected with the divided windings of the converter,- substantially as set forth.

Signed at Cleveland, this tenth dayl ol' June, A.. D. 1907 in the presence of the wit# 'nesses subscribing their names below.

JOHN F. ENGLE. [nD s] Witnesses:

' A. H. Grmswono,A

C. H. LORTEE. 

